After months of coaching, American marathoner Jay Glidewell of St. Louis, Mo., confronted each runner’s nightmare simply 10K into the 2025 Berlin Marathon: his shoe utterly gave out. The correct sole of his well-worn Nike Vaporfly 4% Flyknits tore off, leaving him with no alternative however to proceed 32km barefoot.
However then got here the Berlin Marathon magic. Out of the gang, a German spectator, Sven Hock, stepped in, actually talking, providing Glidewell his personal sneakers. By pure coincidence, it was the right dimension. Glidewell slipped it on, and because of that act of kindness, he went on to complete in 3:10:33.
“A random spectator, now good friend, saved me from a visit to the podiatrist!” Glidewell wrote on social media. “He graciously lent me his proper shoe, which I actually couldn’t be any extra grateful for.”
Hock had even provided each sneakers, however Glidewell mentioned he solely wanted the appropriate. Sadly, destiny wasn’t completed with him. On the 38-kilometre mark, his left shoe blew aside, forcing him to run/stroll the final 4 kilometres in his sock and Hock’s proper shoe.
Hock’s companion Stefanie later posted in regards to the second on social media: “It was the appropriate timing, proper place, and proper shoe. It was simply pure coincidence—it was the right dimension.”
Because it seems, Glidewell had been testing the boundaries of his Vaporflys. A take a look at his Strava reveals he first raced in the identical sneakers at a marathon again in 2019, greater than 5 years and a number of marathons in the past. The Nike sneakers made it identified that Berlin was their ultimate run.
Nonetheless, because of Hock’s generosity, the 30-year-old accomplished his third Abbott World Marathon Main and is already setting his sights on his fourth, the Tokyo Marathon in March 2026.